The SDLP today ruled out cooperation with Sinn Féin while a top unionist called for greater efforts to combat republican political ambitions.
After SDLP member Declan O’Loan caused a storm by effectively proposing a merger with Sinn Féin, his leader Margaret Ritchie has again ruled out such a move.
This came as Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy told an Orange Order event that his party should cooperate with the DUP to halt Sinn Fein’s growth.
On Friday, Ms Ritchie announced that she had lifted Mr O’Loan’s suspension from party ranks over his nationalist unity call. But in a speech to party members this weekend, she ruled out any cooperation with republicans.
“I can see no credible argument for closer ties with Sinn Féin,” she said. “A closer tie with Sinn Féin leading to a single nationalist party is a step beyond the pale for me.
“It is unacceptable because quite apart from the huge difference in our backgrounds, history and political philosophy, we actually have very little in common,” she said.
“Yes we are both nationalist parties who believe in Irish unity. Many of our members are of the same religion and have similar cultural interests - but there it really does end. We are fundamentally different on everything else.”
Mr Kennedy said today unionists must “stand together” to challenge Sinn Féin.
“Unionist disunity has been Sinn Féin’s opportunity. Sinn Féin has successively inflicted serious damage on both main unionist parties and on their leaderships,” he said. “It is time for unionism to come together and work together.”
Calls for unionist unity have grown after Sinn Féin topped the poll in both the European and general elections. It was the first time republicans emerged as the party with the largest share of the vote in Northern Ireland’s history, and underlined Sinn Féin’s chances of leading the Assembly poll next May.
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness already shares the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister with DUP leader Peter Robinson.
If Sinn Féin emerges as the largest party in the Assembly election, it could see Mr McGuinness possibly moving from the deputy First Minister’s role into that of the First Minister.
Unionists have considered how to avoid the development and today Mr Kennedy repeated calls for unionist cooperation which stopped short of a full merger between the UUP and DUP. He said if the Conservatives could work closely with the Liberal Democrats to form a government at Westminster, the unionist parties could also work together at Stormont.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams told a republican commemoration that his party was working constructively to heal the wounds of the past and build a new future, including through the power-sharing Assembly.